Nebraska microbrewery launches Git-R-Done beer

Pawnee City, Neb. – A local microbrewery has launched a beer for one of America’s most recognizable rednecks: Larry the Cable Guy.

Git-R-Done beer, named for the comedian’s famous catchphrase, was launched Saturday by SchillingBridge Winery & MicroBrewery, from the small town where the 44-year-old actor-comedian grew up.

The owners of the small family winery say the light beer is made from high-quality ingredients with more “flavor and body” than popular corporate beers.

Mike Schilling, who runs the winery with his wife, Sharon, is confident Git-R-Done beer will appeal to the comedian’s fan base.

Larry the Cable Guy has become popular through films, cable television and a standup tour. The Schillings proposed the new beer to the comedian, whose real name is Dan Whitney.

Sharon Schilling said Whitney visited the winery in July 2005 to accept the offer wearing a pair of shorts and a sleeveless camouflage shirt.

“He said, ‘Let’s git-r-done,'” she said. “He made it sound so simple.”

Rushdie, Lakshmi to divorce

New York – The three-year marriage of Salman Rushdie and Padma Lakshmi has ended, their publicists said Monday.

“Salman Rushdie has agreed to divorce his wife, Padma Lakshmi, because of her desire to end their marriage,” his representative, Jin Auh, said in a statement.

Lakshmi’s publicist, Christina Papadopoulos, said in a separate statement that Lakshmi “has agreed with her husband-author, Salman Rushdie, to end their marriage.”

“After an 8-year relationship including over three years of marriage, Lakshmi regrets that their mutual efforts failed to make the marriage work,” the statement said.

Rushdie’s recent British knighthood led to worldwide protests from Muslims angered by his 1989 novel, “The Satanic Verses.”

Lakshmi is the host of Bravo’s “Top Chef” and the author of the cookbook “Easy Exotic.”

Prince Edward’s wife, Sophie, expecting couple’s second child

London – The royal family will be a little larger by December, Buckingham Palace said Monday, announcing that Prince Edward’s 42-year-old wife, Sophie, is expecting the couple’s second child.

Edward – the youngest son of Queen Elizabeth II – and Sophie, who are the Earl and Countess of Wessex, are the parents of Lady Louise, who was born in November 2003.

“The earl and the countess are both thrilled and excited. The countess will continue with engagements as normal and take doctors’ advice,” a spokeswoman said. She spoke on condition of anonymity in line with palace policy.

A statement from Buckingham Palace said the queen and her husband, Prince Philip, “are delighted with the news.” The baby will be their eighth grandchild.

Opera star Beverly Sills dies of cancer at 78, manager says

New York – Beverly Sills, the Brooklyn-born opera diva who was a global icon of can-do American culture with her dazzling voice, bubbly personality and management moxie in the arts world, died Monday of cancer, her manager said. She was 78.

It had been revealed just last month that Sills was gravely ill with inoperable lung cancer. Sills, who never smoked, died about 9 p.m. Monday at her Manhattan home with her family and doctor at her side, said her manager, Edgar Vincent.

Beyond the music world, Sills gained fans worldwide with a style that matched her childhood nickname, Bubbles. The relaxed, red-haired diva appeared frequently on “The Tonight Show,” “The Muppet Show” and in televised performances with her friend Carol Burnett.

Together, they did a show from the stage of the Metropolitan Opera called “Sills and Burnett at the Met,” singing rip-roaring duets with funny one-liners thrown in.